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Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

Coming from struggle, Somali student wants to ‘change someone’s life’

Grads with Grit Morgan Jarema

A Forest Hills Northern High School graduate born in war-torn Somalia plans to leverage the opportunities he has been given in this country to help children and families adjust to the U.S. and its culture...

‘You can’t rely on other people to build you up’

Grads with Grit Morgan Jarema

Shane Brewer admits he once did “the bare minimum” in school. “I just scraped along. It’s not that I’m not smart. I just didn’t see the point.” Until he did...

High school students spread kindness through service to larger community

Student Leaders Hannah Lentz

From volunteering at nursing homes to working with students at local elementary schools and making stickers for patients at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, students were kept busy during the sixth annual day of service...

Practicing leadership on the playground

Student Leaders Erin Albanese

Sixth-through-eighth graders are using the skills they learn in the semester-long leadership class and paying them forward helping out at the elementary school to reinforce good behavior...

Director takes joy in teaching student musicians, ‘to see what they can do and where they go’

Rockstar Teachers Charles Honey

Band director Greg Wells grew up as part of Northview’s proud tradition, in a family of music educators, and feels honored to carry it on

“I realize what a privilege it is”

Rockstar Teachers Erin Albanese

Rockstar Teachers Series: There's just something about certain teachers that draws students to them in droves and keeps them checking in years, even decades...

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Video featuring parents encourages more to get involved

Parents’ voices unite in an uplifting video that shares their experiences in the district and encourages others to get involved

‘I’m the appreciation chairperson’

Lowell Morgan Jarema

Parent volunteer Melissa Kelley-Carey says even the smallest amount of time is a big help, and that help doesn’t always come in the form of hours clocked

She supports school with business partners, great food

Grand Rapids Charles Honey

Rachel Lee encourages other neighborhood parents to check out the school, and helps in the classroom and on the playground, all while running her own restaurant, Citizen

Almost a Teacher, Now She Helps Them All

Kenowa Hills Charles Honey

Danielle Storey leads a line of bundled-up kindergartners through the halls of Central Elementary School, to an exit where parents wait by their cars...

‘My Class is More Than What I Teach Them’

Grandville Jaye Beeler

At 7:45 a.m. daily, teacher Terry Blevins begins the day with his 30 audiovisual broadcasting students tooling about a warren of separate rooms stuffed...

Students Bring Concerns from Classroom to Council

Godfrey-Lee Erin Albanese

East Lee High School students recently served as a voice for the millions of victims of human trafficking worldwide, including thousands in West Michigan,...

‘The Classroom is Why I Wake Up in the Morning’

East Grand Rapids Morgan Jarema

Eighth-grader Aaron Souter touched an iPad screen to maneuver a sphero along a stairwell floor, while classmate Ryan Reszka constructed an obstacle course of...

Tying Shoes, Zipping Coats, Giving Hugs: ‘Grandpa Dale’ Does it All

Sparta Janice Holst

Dale Allers has three grandchildren, but more than 500 children from ages 5 through 15 who call him grandpa. Allers has worked in same two...

‘Such Good and Such Promise in Each of Them’

Kenowa Hills Charles Honey

Fourteen students form a semicircle, discussing in detail the meaning of a poem by Pablo Neruda, "I Like When You Are Quiet." Witness the teaching...

Poppa Belly Floppa Gives ‘That Special Love’

Grandville Jaye Beeler

At Central Elementary School, the spontaneity on the playground pings around grandparent Ernie Sandona, who’s at the center of the dance. His grandson, third-grader...

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School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Her career path was laid in first grade

She helps students develop language, read, write & grow

Not just a volunteer, but ‘a piece of the library’

He is demonstrating how important English is in business

Partnership pairs high-schoolers with scientists for real-world research

Simulated crime ties science, critical thinking & data analysis

Opportunities abound at first in-house career fair

Partnership with Black-founded nonprofit brings dedicated learning space

Learning life skills ‘where life happens’

State of the Student tackles four big topics

High-schoolers talk mental health with education leaders, legislators

Student news crew interviews state superintendent

Profiles of Students, Staff, Teachers

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